Tony Guzzo, Wiley Lee To Be Inducted Into Virginia Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
By Harry Minium
NORFOLK, Va. – Two former coaches with close ties to Old Dominion University will be inducted into the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday in Richmond.
Former ODU baseball star and local high school coach Wiley Lee and the late Tony Guzzo, who was the Monarchs’ head coach for a decade, are among 10 former coaches who be inducted at a ceremony to be held at the University of Richmond.
It is just the third hall of fame class for the coaches association and ODU Head Baseball Coach Chris Finwood says both deserve richly deserve to be inducted. They will be the first from ODU to be honored.
Guzzo passed away this past October and his celebration of life was held at the Bud Metheny Ballpark. A Norfolk native who began coaching at Norfolk Catholic High School, his alma mater, he left after four seasons and spent two as an assistant coach at East Carolina, his college alma mater.
He was then a head coach the next 25 years at North Carolina Wesleyan (106-66), VCU (362-302-2) and ODU (290-242-1) and finished with a lifetime record of 718-610-3.
He twice took North Carolina Wesleyan to NCAA Division III College World Series and VCU twice and ODU three times to the NCAA Tournament.
Guzzo was known for his fierce work ethic, love for his family and the strict discipline that he insisted upon wherever he coached.
“I talked to the guys at the coaches association and they said that Guzz was going to get in the hall of fame before they heard he had an accident. The decision had already been made,” Finwood said.
“I’m glad because he certainly deserves this honor. I only wish he were still alive to accept the award.”
Lee was one of the best base runners in college baseball in his three seasons at ODU. He was successful on 120 of 132 career stolen base attempts and was a standout from the start, as he hit .355 with 42 RBIs and 40 steals as a freshman.
He started at second base for the U.S. National Squad in 1986. As a senior, he hit a college career-high .358 and had college a career-high 42 stolen bases.
Lee was drafted in the fifth round by the California Angels in 1987, where he was selected to minor league all-star teams in both the California and Texas leagues in four seasons.
After retiring, Lee became a coach in Hampton Roads, and led Great Bridge High to 11 Southeastern District titles in 15 seasons and state championships in 2003 and 2011. More than 50 of his Great Bridge players moved on to play college baseball and four played pro baseball, including Justin Upon, top pick in the 2005 draft who hit 325 Major League home runs.
Lee also served as an assistant coach at Norfolk State. He was inducted into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.
“I’ve gotten to know Wiley pretty well since I’ve been here,” Finwood said. “He has amazing ties to ODU. He loves Old Dominion and is a great baseball guy and a very respected man.
“He won the Bud Metheny Award a few years ago and his speech was one of the best I’ve heard. He’s a really good person who gave so much of his life to baseball. This is a great honor for him.”
Minium is ODU's Senior Executive Writer for Athletics. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or fllow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram